Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Former flanker turned Olympian compared to legendary Wallabies winger

Dylan Pietsch of Australia on attack during The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between New Zealand All Blacks and Australia Wallabies at Sky Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Dual international Marika Koroibete is one of the greatest wingers to have ever worn the famed gold jersey of the Wallabies. David Campese, Lote Tuqiri and Drew Mitchell are also in that discussion, but Koroibete was twice named the Wallabies’ best player.

ADVERTISEMENT

Backrower George Smith was awarded the inaugural John Eales Medal in 2022. Smith, Michael Hooper, Israel Folau, Nathan Sharpe and David Pocock are the only other multi-time winners in the history of the award, of which Koroibete is the only out-and-out winger.

Koroibete has come under fire as of late following a poor run of performances in Wallaby gold since returning to the national setup ahead of The Rugby Championship. The 32-year-old was injured during Bledisloe I in Sydney and ended up missing the next Test in Wellington.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

That injury to Koroibete, as well as an illness to Max Jorgensen which saw the rising star return home to Australia early in the Test week, opened the door for Dylan Pietsch to start in Wallaby gold for the first time.

Back in high school, Pietsch was selected in the 2016 Australian Schools Barbarians side after his second season in the King’s School First XV. But, interestingly, the future Wallaby was a backrower before making the shift to wing later in his career.

But, Pietsch started in the Wallabies’ No. 11 jumper for the first time last weekend and the speedster was quite solid on the left edge. Former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles has highlighted “physicality” as a trait Pietsch shares with Koroibete.

“Marika is a very difficult guy to compare to,” Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I think his physicality is very similar, he’s not yet learnt the art of the multiple touches in a game but not many wingers have – that’s Marika’s superpower – not just his quality but his quantity of work because he goes and gets it.

“That’s what’s been so good for us.”

Four-time John Eales medallist Michael Hooper added: “Pietschy is a seven, he was a seven back in the day. He did play sevens as well but he was a number seven… he got a steal there in NZ. He’s good.

“It is a great story, Pietschy. He sat in front of us at the Waratahs, this might have been two years ago now, and his dream was just to play for Australia. It was just what he talked about and he’s gone and he’s done that.

“It’s really lovely to see someone when they set a goal like that, and he puts it out there to the team at the time, and it’s a tough spot to get in (as) an Australian winger and he’s managed to do it.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Really cool and happy for him and his crew.”

The journey from high school backrower to Wallabies winger isn’t a transition that happens overnight. Pietsch joined the Australian Men’s Sevens program right out of school and went on to debut on the international circuit in Wellington during the 2016/17 season.

Pitsch battled some mental health challenges, as the panel on Stan Sport briefly discussed, but later returned to rugby in time to make Team Australia’s squad for the Tokyo Olympics. After signing with the Waratahs, the now 26-year-old continued to chase his Wallabies dream.

Eddie Jones selected Pietsch in the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad last year.

Match Summary

0
Penalty Goals
2
5
Tries
1
4
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
155
Carries
143
9
Line Breaks
4
12
Turnovers Lost
15
9
Turnovers Won
5

While his Test debut didn’t come that year, it was right around the corner. New coach, Joe Schmidt, selected the Western Force-bound flyer to come off the bench during the Wallabies’ first win over Wales in July.

“He went to boarding school quite young… went to Kings and then came out of that and pretty much went straight into the sevens program.

“It’s always difficult for young guys leaving school because you’re sent into a program and you’re essentially asked to act the same as the guy next to you who is 30-years-old and he put a lot of pressure on himself.

“Sevens, there’s so many good things about being in the sevens squad… but it’s hard because if you miss selection on this tournament, you’ve got to wait six weeks to go and get the next one.

“You can end up going three or four months without playing much football and as a young guy, that’s what you love.

“I remember one day in Canada, he came on day two, didn’t get used on day one and scored like 11 tries in three games. He just has that exceptional ability to do things.”

ADVERTISEMENT

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Aric Boyer 2 hours ago
George Skivington talks up 'relative unknown's England chances

I Could Hardly Breathe! Months of tireless fundraising had finally come through for my small nonprofit, and we had $300,000 in Bitcoin to supply food, shelter, and medical aid to refugees fleeing war. That fund was hope, a future for families who had no other place to turn. It all fell apart in an instant. Our treasurer, a man I'd trusted like a brother, vanished overnight and took the entire fund with him. I was heartbroken. The weight of the people who were depending on us pressed against my chest. I could hardly breathe. I looked at my screen, powerless to do anything as the blockchain ledger confirmed my worst nightmare, the funds had been moved through a series of wallets, vanished into thin air.

Sleepless and remorseful, I consulted a crisis management expert in a desperate phone call. With the calm, panic-slashing tone of her voice, she spoke GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . Her confidence was the sort that spoke of seen miracles. At that straw of hope, I grasped and called them immediately.

From that first call, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES treated my case like those refugee lives were in their own hands. Their lead investigator explained their approach, tracing transactions through blockchains, monitoring wallet activity, and leveraging relationships with international exchanges. They explained it all in plain terms, never once making me feel dumb for my ignorance. They understood both the technical complexity and the human stakes.

There were daily progress reports. They followed the laundering path our treasurer had attempted, following the trail through the decentralized exchanges and privacy-focused mixers. Each breakthrough was like a heartbeat resuscitating a stilled chest. On the nineteenth day, they called with the words I had scarcely dared to hope: "We got it back."

I got down on my knees and wept. $300,000 was safely recovered to our nonprofit wallet. But GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES didn't hesitate. They guided us through implementing enhanced security measures, such as multi-signature wallets, cold storage solutions, and rigorous internal oversight. They even advised us on vetting future financial officers.

Our mission is stronger today than ever. Refugee families are still being assisted, and I sleep well knowing our funds are secure. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES not only retrieved our Bitcoin, they restored my faith in resiliency and human kindness. You can reach them on web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

1 Go to comments
A
Aric Boyer 3 hours ago
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

I Could Hardly Breathe! Months of tireless fundraising had finally come through for my small nonprofit, and we had $300,000 in Bitcoin to supply food, shelter, and medical aid to refugees fleeing war. That fund was hope, a future for families who had no other place to turn. It all fell apart in an instant. Our treasurer, a man I'd trusted like a brother, vanished overnight and took the entire fund with him. I was heartbroken. The weight of the people who were depending on us pressed against my chest. I could hardly breathe. I looked at my screen, powerless to do anything as the blockchain ledger confirmed my worst nightmare, the funds had been moved through a series of wallets, vanished into thin air.

Sleepless and remorseful, I consulted a crisis management expert in a desperate phone call. With the calm, panic-slashing tone of her voice, she spoke GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . Her confidence was the sort that spoke of seen miracles. At that straw of hope, I grasped and called them immediately.

From that first call, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES treated my case like those refugee lives were in their own hands. Their lead investigator explained their approach, tracing transactions through blockchains, monitoring wallet activity, and leveraging relationships with international exchanges. They explained it all in plain terms, never once making me feel dumb for my ignorance. They understood both the technical complexity and the human stakes.

There were daily progress reports. They followed the laundering path our treasurer had attempted, following the trail through the decentralized exchanges and privacy-focused mixers. Each breakthrough was like a heartbeat resuscitating a stilled chest. On the nineteenth day, they called with the words I had scarcely dared to hope: "We got it back."

I got down on my knees and wept. $300,000 was safely recovered to our nonprofit wallet. But GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES didn't hesitate. They guided us through implementing enhanced security measures, such as multi-signature wallets, cold storage solutions, and rigorous internal oversight. They even advised us on vetting future financial officers.

Our mission is stronger today than ever. Refugee families are still being assisted, and I sleep well knowing our funds are secure. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES not only retrieved our Bitcoin, they restored my faith in resiliency and human kindness. You can reach them on web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

4 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Champions Cup: And then there were eight... Champions Cup: And then there were eight...
Search